Return to Nature

September 16-21, 2024

Ready for an all-inclusive week of relaxation in nature and on the mat?

Welcome to Muonio, Finnish Lapland.

Join us for yoga, wilderness trips, sauna, swimming, and relaxation in Finnish Lapland! Enjoy the world’s purest air, incredible foliage, northern lights (seriously!), and cool evenings, as September is a time of true beauty in Lapland.

Ready to join us?
September 16-21, 2024

Whether you’re looking for a chance to pause from the overstimulation of life, reboot your wellbeing, or are looking for some joyful time in the beautiful outdoors, our nature-focused retreat together will definitely help you get your endorphins up and stress levels down.

Our warm and caring approach to life will support you on this week-long adventure.

  • Monday

    Welcome to Lapland. Arrival & check-in on Monday, late afternoon. Then, we’ll begin with our introductions and first yoga session, followed by dinner together.

  • Tuesday

    A day of settling in, with yoga, meditation, and enjoying nature. Meals enjoyed communally. As our evening event, we’ll enjoy sauna and swimming, before having dinner.

  • Wednesday

    Breakfast and prep for overnight trip. Depart by late morning to the trailhead, where we’ll walk about 4km to Keimiöjärvi in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. We’ll stay overnight at the rental hut, where lunch and dinner, as well as yoga will be enjoyed.

  • Thursday

    Morning outdoor yoga and meditation, followed by breakfast and packing up. We’ll head out back on the trail to our starting location. Taxi pickup and return to town after lunch. Free time to rest, or even explore the town. Dinner enjoyed communally.

  • Friday

    We’ll have a relaxed morning with breakfast, after which we’ll head out for a couple hours into nature for some forest yoga. Later on, we’ll enjoy a singing bowl relaxation and yin yoga session. Lunch and dinner communally.

  • Saturday

    Time to say good bye to Lapland. We’ll enjoy our last morning yoga and meditation session, with a nice full brunch and time for closing up the retreat with final thoughts. Option to also check out the town before leaving.

Price details:

All prices include VAT tax.

Until June 30th, 2024 (Early-bird price): 2340€

Until August 1st, 2024 (Regular price): 2499€

Non-refundable deposit of 300€ to be paid upon signing up.

Payment plan options available (15€ service fee per installment).

Return to Nature Deposit
300€
September 16-21, 2024

What’s included?

Accommodation & transportation

5 nights of accommodation in a traditional Finnish cottage near a local lake, including 1 night outdoors Transportation during the entire retreat. Free wifi. See below on how to get here. Transportation is included during the entire week, incl. pickup and drop-off to airport or bus/train station.

Meals

All meals, including brunches, dinners at local restaurants, meals outdoors on hikes, and daily snacks & coffee/ tea.

Yoga & meditation

Daily guided classes inside and/or nature. Classes are slower paced and focused on relaxation, with yin, restorative, gentle flow yoga. Yoga mats provided.

Workshops & sessions

Several specialized holistic workshops and sessions, such as singing bowl sound healing, and crystal sessions.

Wilderness excursions and experiences

Guided group excursions to join as desired, including nature hikes in the Pallas-Ylläs National Park, swimming, sauna, forest yoga, and northern lights watching (we can almost guarantee you’ll see some).

Support & Hiking Equipment

Pre and post-retreat support from our team. Personal Nature Retreat journal and welcome packet included. Hiking equipment, ie. sleeping bag with liner and overnight backpack included.

LODGING

All cabins are cozy, traditional Finnish cottages, located in Muonio, Finnish Lapland.

Shared room in cabin with two single beds, including a living room/kitchenette, and bathroom/shower with sauna.

Additional amenities: refrigerator, toaster, coffee maker, kettle, microwave, hair dryer, TV, and drying cabinet.

Note: if you are interested in a private room, please let us know.

What’s not included?

  • Flight costs

  • Travel insurance

  • Possible car rental

Extra services for additional fee

  • Private Reiki or Chakra balancing sessions

How do I get to Muonio?

By plane: The nearest airport is Kittilä Intl. Airport, located 1hr from our accommodation. We recommend getting a flight from your home country to Helsinki-Vantaa Intl. Airport and then flying to Kittilä from there. Pickup from airport incl.

Another option is to fly from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (about 3hrs away from accommodation), and get a bus from the city center to Muonio (about 40-50€). If you want to stop in Rovaniemi for longer (official home of Santa Clause) this is a great option. Note pickup from Rovaniemi not included. https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi

By train: The nearest train station is in Kolari, about 1hr away from accommodation. Best option is to fly into Helsinki-Vantaa Intl. Airport and take the overnight (sleeper cabins avail.) train up north to Kolari station. Pickup incl. (We prioritize slow travel, so if this is an option for you, we’ll give you a 100€ discount for helping reduce CO^2 emissions).

By car: Car rentals are possible directly from airports in both Rovaniemi or Kittilä if you prefer to travel by car to Muonio.

 

Lapland in September

Meet the Team

  • Retreat Facilitator

    Barbara was drawn to alternative ways of healing as a teen through books on eastern religion and spiritual healing, but didn’t really know where to go with it until she had her WOW moment during her first sociology class in college. Although she couldn’t describe it then, she knew she was meant to be in the holistic space.

    Barbara went on to study organizational behavior and spent a robust business career in this area until finding yoga and working with a variety of healing modalities, initially for herself. These include chakra balancing, essential oils, healing crystals, reiki and the power of endorphins! [That’s how the EndorphinGirl® blog came to life! www.endorphingirl.org]

    She hold a masters in social-organizational psychology and loves supporting people on their healing/life journey. During her corporate career she lived and worked in numerous countries allowing her to do cross-cultural development with people from all over. Her initial shift to yoga instructor was a natural transition from her corporate organizational behaviour / mindset work, and her previous work weaves in seamlessly to her current roles.

    Barbara is a registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 520hrs) focusing mostly on Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative Yoga. Her classes focus on breath work (Pranayama), gentle and intermediate movement (Asanas) and Meditation. Her students range in age from 4 onwards.

    She is a Lightarian Reiki (Usui Master) Practitioner, and has completed the Lightarian Institute AngelLink and AngelLink Extension Attunements and is ‘registered’ to pass those Attunements on to others as well as to attune Master Reiki practitioners to Lightarian Reiki.

    She is a certified Aroma Reiki Practitioner through the SHINE Academy as well as an Advanced Crystal Practitioner through the Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy.

    Barbara loves sharing her knowledge with those interested in this amazing area - to help them find a happier, healthier, more joyful way of living!

  • Retreat Facilitator

    Movement, nature, and yoga are deeply important to Mia. She finds strength and peace in being in nature, being on the mat, and moving her body in ways that feel good. She loves sharing the journey of reconnecting with our bodies, reconnecting with nature, and slowing down with others around the world.

    Mia graduated with a Bachelors in International Studies and Russian Culture & Language from the University of Michigan. Since then, she’s traveled, worked, and lived in various countries, until finally slowing down for a bit in Finland.

    Mia is a certified (500+HR) Yoga Teacher, who has taught globally and online since 2016. She has also completed the Accessible Yoga Teacher Training Program, because she believe that this practice is for all bodies, no matter size, ability, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion.

    Mia loves the outdoors and recently completed her Nature and Wilderness Guide certification in Finnish Lapland (Muonio). She currently lives and works in Muonio, spending time outdoors and teaching at her wellness space in town.

Good to know

  • We require a minimum of 4 participants in order for the retreat to be held.

  • Final day to sign up is August 1, 2024.

  • Group size is between 4-8 people.

  • There are various outdoor excursions, including an easy overnight hike to a local cabin. Sleeping bag and liner, overnight backpack, as well as all other necessary equipment for meals outdoors is provided. If you have your own, feel free to bring it.

  • Daily yoga/meditation either indoors or outside in nature. Yoga mats are provided.

Contact Us

Barbara Kataisto
Email: Barbarakataistoyoga@gmail.com

Mia Kataisto
Email: Evergreensstudio@gmail.com